Chief Operating Officer

• Jul 2023 - Present

Senior Vice President for Collaborative Services

• Jan 2021 - Jun 2023

I am accountable for helping WAICU members control college costs by leveraging buying power and sharing back office services through group purchasing. My responsibilities include: • Lead WAICU’s innovative cost-saving collaborations• Identify significant (high impact) opportunities for member colleges and universities to work together to expand access and affordability by reducing/stabilizing costs• Conduct due diligence on potential programs and shared services• Garner real world input by soliciting the experiences of members through advisory task forces• Assist presidents of member colleges and universities decide whether or not their college will participate in particular product or service• Facilitate implementation of products and shared services• Engage in continuous improvement of cost-savings collaborative services• Report on challenges and opportunities and on outcomes• Function as chief operating officer of WAICU “affiliated” organizations: WAICU Benefits Consortium, WAICU Educational Technology Consortium, and WAICU Multiple Employer Retirement Plan CollaborationI am proud that all of the work my team and I do for WAICU members ultimately advances the mission of expanding educational opportunities for students. Show less

Chief Sustainability Officer

• Jul 2015 - Jan 2021

As Unity College's Chief Sustainability Officer, much like a COO, I was responsible for operational excellence across the functional areas of Business, Facilities Management, Information Technology, and Sustainability, as well as providing strategic leadership in support of the College mission. I leveraged these areas for strategic alignment of college curriculum, operations, and administration with the principles of sustainability. I identified ways that America's Environmental College could more deeply realize its mission, and I created policies, processes, and partnerships to move the needle in that direction. During my time at Unity College, I also oversaw the financial success of 10% of the total institutional budget, comprising auxiliary revenue streams including meal plans, campus farm, events and summer programs, and catering. Though my role evolved, I continued to help differentiate these sustainable ventures in the marketplace by highlighting the College's commitment to sustainability. I believe that high-level sustainability leadership is essential for any institution's relevance and financial viability. Here's how I helped shape that impact: • Implemented policy, practices, and risk management strategies to optimize College-wide effectiveness of all the areas in my supervision • Worked with my team to organize priorities and make progress toward strategic KPIs • Created a service mindset focused on data management and engagement • Restructured and empowered teams to take pride in place • Designed a decision-making process for strategic plan initiatives • Authored and implemented college-wide policies that institutionalize sustainability • Utilized true collaboration: start with the right people in the room, give them a voice, decide, and move on • Above all, model integrity and purpose Show less

Sustainability Coordinator

• Apr 2011 - Jun 2015

Growing up, I never dreamed I would find myself wearing an Army uniform, much less enjoying it! Nonetheless, this is exactly what I did at VMI while implementing sustainability projects and assisting with facilities management. I am proud that the work I did there "stuck." Today, both VMI staff and community members carry on what I started. Here are some highlights: • I expanded, improved, and promoted recycling and waste reduction efforts, converting resisters into allies both internally and in the municipality. My successes allowed the Physical Plant department to justify creating and filling of a full-time recycling position after I left. • I took VMI's community rail trail improvement initiative to the 10-yd line by advancing funding opportunities, creating a web presence, and reconstituting an advisory committee. Thanks to my work, the trail won a sustainability award. Today, all the initial trail improvements have been made and more are planned, and the trail hosts an annual running race. • I convened faculty from four departments to collaborate with me on an applied project using campus as a laboratory. Their senior thesis students conducted a design and feasibility study on composting. One faculty member went on to submit our work for publication. Show less

Program Coordinator for Sustainability

• Jun 2007 - Apr 2011

I started in the Harvard Green Campus Initiative just as it was maturing into the Office for Sustainability. Working with the green buildings team, I developed peer-to-peer learning programs for facilities staff and coordinated a dining hall sustainability competition. I was soon recruited over to the Real Estate Services division, which manages the university's commercial properties - hotels, office buildings, graduate housing and so forth. I managed that entire portfolio's greenhouse gas project list and progress reports, which gave me a lasting appreciation for life cycle cost analysis. Most memorably, I assisted in funding, installing, and commissioning a 500 kW solar PV array through a power purchase agreement, well as a 20 kW wind power project on a parking garage. I love seeing those turbines when I travel through Boston. Show less

Industrial Program Associate

• Aug 2006 - May 2007

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) brings utilities and industries together to promote adoption of energy efficient technologies. When you or your organization takes advantage of incentives and rebates from your utility, you are benefiting from CEE's behind-the-scenes leadership. I focused on utilities that had incentives for industrial equipment. I still have the ability to estimate the horsepower of any motor without looking at the name plate. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) brings utilities and industries together to promote adoption of energy efficient technologies. When you or your organization takes advantage of incentives and rebates from your utility, you are benefiting from CEE's behind-the-scenes leadership. I focused on utilities that had incentives for industrial equipment. I still have the ability to estimate the horsepower of any motor without looking at the name plate.

High School Science Teacher

• Aug 2004 - Jun 2006

Teaching Advanced Placement Biology inspired my eventual career leap to sustainability in higher education. In what would be my final year as a teacher, I coordinated a guest lecture series to fill a gap in the AP curriculum. Experts in environmental fields exposed my students, and me, to the chilling realities of climate change. I had to know more. I had to DO more. I had to leave behind rigid curricula for a chance to influence tomorrow's leaders. To this day, I consider myself an educator. Teaching Advanced Placement Biology inspired my eventual career leap to sustainability in higher education. In what would be my final year as a teacher, I coordinated a guest lecture series to fill a gap in the AP curriculum. Experts in environmental fields exposed my students, and me, to the chilling realities of climate change. I had to know more. I had to DO more. I had to leave behind rigid curricula for a chance to influence tomorrow's leaders. To this day, I consider myself an educator.

Middle School Science Teacher

• Aug 2001 - Jun 2004

Outreach Coordinator

• Aug 1999 - May 2001